Monday November 30, 2015

Click here to listen to:
Thousand Years by Christina Perri Cover by One Horizon

Today I would like to reflect on a project that I was a part of last year.  It was a youtube video that I worked on with Brenda Duffin and Carolyn Brady from the band One Horizon.  We wanted to recognize that November being National Adoption Month.  We posted pictures of many families with adopted children accompanied by our very own cover of the song "Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.  When I first started working on an arrangement for this song I found myself being uninspired by the movie soundtrack this song came from.  I had no desire to be conjuring up images of Edward and Bella every time I sang this song.  As I searched for my own source of inspiration I found that the lyrics perfectly captured my own experience with adoption.  Here is a sample of the song with updated vocals.  I hope you enjoy it.

Click here to listen to:

Thousand Years by Christina Perri Cover by One Horizon

P.S.  Here is a link to the youtube video we made in 2014 if you would like to check it out again.  Until next time.. Happy Songwriting!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My children are vacationing from school right now, and it is the Thanksgiving holiday, so I will be spending the next week with my family.  I do plan on keeping my mind open and allowing songs to come from my life experiences over the next few days, though.  I hope all of you continue to allow music to flow from your creative minds throughout the Thanksgiving season too, and please share when you do.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I look forward to regularly posting starting November 30th.  Until then.... Happy Songwriting!!

Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

WaCkY WeDnEsDaY ChAlLeNgE: City Dove by Tori Kelly cover by Catrina Baum

Here it is.  WOW!!  That was a difficult challenge.  I managed to get this out amid the hustle and bustle of home life with my husband getting surgery and all the other busy plans that go along with this time of year.  I hope you like it.

Take Note Tuesday: Sterre Van Boxtel

Exploring a variety of musical genres this week, I wanted to go global and share a video of a girl I came across while surfing music channels on youtube.  Her interpretation and stage presence are top notch.  She is an 11 year old from Europe who has been in different singing competitions and is coming out with her first CD at the end of November.  I know she is not a songwriter, but maybe she will grow into that.  In the mean time, I really like the way she has added her interpretation of the songs she has on her videos.  Check her channel out.

Monday Memoirs: November 15th Thinking of Rebecca Kuhnel

Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have recently started to meet on a regular basis, with a friend of mine, who likes to write songs.  She has written several piano solos as well as a fully orchestrated piece.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her work.  Her name is Rebecca Kuhnel.  It is such a pleasure for me to explore diverse genres of music.  I find myself being inspired to continue with my work as I meet and listen to her work.  I do believe that meeting together on a regular basis with artists who desire to create music or any other form of art is truly inspiring and motivating.  I would like to share with you a sample of her work.  This song is called, "Jayne".  To hear this song click on the link: Jayne by Rebecca Kuhnel

I would love to hear some of the stories you have, of people you might meet with on a regular basis, who help you be motivated to create.  If you have not, as yet, had the opportunity of meeting with other creative artists, I would like to challenge you to give it a try and share your story.  Even if your first attempt is an epic fail, we all have to start somewhere, and I would love to hear about it.  Until next time.... Happy Song Writing.

Wacky Wednesday Challenge: CITY DOVE by Tori Kelly

WOW! This challenge ended up being a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I chose to do a cover of the song City Dove by Tori Kelly in one week.  I hope you enjoy my version of it.  Please, let me know if you decide to accept the Wacky Wednesday Challenge too.  I would love to see what you can come up with in one week.

Next week... part 2 to the Wacky Wednesday Challenge... a youtube video to go with the cover song City Dove.  :)  Until next time.... Happy Songwriting!

“Migrating Wild Geese Of The Country” by Vlado at www.freedigitalphotos.net

Click here to listen to my cover of City Dove by Tori Kelly:

https://soundcloud.com/catrinabaum/city-dove-by-tori-kelly-cover

Take Note Tuesday: Chelsey Stallings

I personally try not to listen to Christmas Music until after Thanksgiving so that I am not sick of it by Christmas day, but I could not help myself here.  Today, I would like to hi-light Chelsey Stallings.  She is a singer/songwritter that I met at the Bit Door Songwriting Conference last month.  One of my favorite songs that she has on her youtube station is an arrangement of "Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanual".  It is hauntingly beautiful.  I hope you get a chance to enjoy all the music on her youtube station.